John P. Scott
Encyclopedia
John P. Scott was an American Republican Party
politician who served in the New Jersey Senate
from 1992 to 1998 where he represented the 36th Legislative District, which covered Passaic
and portions of southern Bergen County
.
Scott was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
. He grew up in Jersey City
and graduated from Montclair State University
before serving in the United States Army
. During the 1980s, Scott served as chairman of the New Jersey Conservative Caucus. Scott was campaign manager for Arthur F. Jones in his 1986 bid to unseat Congressman
Robert Torricelli
.
A resident of Lyndhurst
, Scott was elected to the State Senate in 1991, when he defeated incumbent Gabriel Ambrosio in the wake of widespread voter dissatisfaction with then-Governor of New Jersey
James Florio
. The feared loss of state aid to local communities under the 1990 Quality Education Act also played a role in Scott's win. The two faced off again in 1993, with Scott winning re-election by a 53%-47% margin. While serving in the Senate, Scott pushed for the elimination of wasteful spending and was an advocate for smaller government.
In 1993, Scott and Senator Louis F. Kosco
co-sponsored legislation to impose a commuter tax
on New York
residents who worked in the Garden State based on their total family income, which Kosco described as "retaliatory legislation" on behalf of the 230,000 New Jersey residents who worked in New York and were assessed taxes by that state on their income.
Scott lost his seat in November 1997 to Democrat Garry Furnari
. Furnari won with 55% of the vote, taking the seat of what The New York Times
described as "one of the most conservative Republicans in the Legislature".
He worked for New Jersey Transit
after leaving elected office. Scott and his wife moved to Dingman Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania in August 2001. There he was a founder of the Dingman Township Republican Club and served on the Pike County Republican Committee. He ran in May 2007 in the Republican Party primary for the part-time position of Pike County
Auditor. While in Pennsylvania, he served as an advisor to the political campaigns of several Republican candidates.
Scott died at age 76 on May 21, 2010.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician who served in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
from 1992 to 1998 where he represented the 36th Legislative District, which covered Passaic
Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
and portions of southern Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
.
Scott was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
. He grew up in Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
and graduated from Montclair State University
Montclair State University
Montclair State University is a public research university located in the Upper Montclair section of Montclair, the Great Notch area of Little Falls, and Clifton, New Jersey. As of October 2009, there were 18,171 total enrolled students: 14,139 undergraduate students and 4,032 graduate students...
before serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. During the 1980s, Scott served as chairman of the New Jersey Conservative Caucus. Scott was campaign manager for Arthur F. Jones in his 1986 bid to unseat Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Robert Torricelli
Robert Torricelli
Robert Guy Torricelli , nicknamed "the Torch," is an American politician from the U.S. state of New Jersey. Torricelli, a Democrat, served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives before being elected to the U.S. Senate...
.
A resident of Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
Lyndhurst is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 20,554.Lyndhurst was originally formed as Union Township on February 19, 1852 from portions of Harrison Township...
, Scott was elected to the State Senate in 1991, when he defeated incumbent Gabriel Ambrosio in the wake of widespread voter dissatisfaction with then-Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
James Florio
James Florio
James Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...
. The feared loss of state aid to local communities under the 1990 Quality Education Act also played a role in Scott's win. The two faced off again in 1993, with Scott winning re-election by a 53%-47% margin. While serving in the Senate, Scott pushed for the elimination of wasteful spending and was an advocate for smaller government.
In 1993, Scott and Senator Louis F. Kosco
Louis F. Kosco
Louis F. Kosco is an American Republican Party politician who served in both the New Jersey General Assembly and the New Jersey Senate....
co-sponsored legislation to impose a commuter tax
Commuter tax
A commuter tax is a tax levied upon persons who work in a jurisdiction, but who do not live in that jurisdiction...
on New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
residents who worked in the Garden State based on their total family income, which Kosco described as "retaliatory legislation" on behalf of the 230,000 New Jersey residents who worked in New York and were assessed taxes by that state on their income.
Scott lost his seat in November 1997 to Democrat Garry Furnari
Garry Furnari
Garry J. Furnari is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1998 to 2003, where he represented the 36th Legislative District....
. Furnari won with 55% of the vote, taking the seat of what The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described as "one of the most conservative Republicans in the Legislature".
He worked for New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
after leaving elected office. Scott and his wife moved to Dingman Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania in August 2001. There he was a founder of the Dingman Township Republican Club and served on the Pike County Republican Committee. He ran in May 2007 in the Republican Party primary for the part-time position of Pike County
Pike County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River * Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
Auditor. While in Pennsylvania, he served as an advisor to the political campaigns of several Republican candidates.
Scott died at age 76 on May 21, 2010.